Follow Those Things Which Concern Peace

I wanted us all to take a close look at the book of Romans chapter 14.

Romans 14:5 (GENEVA) This man esteemeth one day above another day, and another man counteth every day alike: let every man be fully persuaded in his mind.

Rom 14:6a He that observeth the day, observeth it to the Lord: and he that observeth not the day, observeth it not to the Lord...

Rom 14:9 For Christ therefore died and rose again, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the quick.
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou condemn thy brother? or why dost thou despise thy brother? for we shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded through the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but unto him that judgeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God, is not meat nor drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost.

Rom 14:18-23
18 For whosoever in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable unto God, and is approved of men.

19 Let us then follow those things which concern peace, and wherewith one may edify another.

20 Destroy not the work of God for meat’s sake: all things indeed are pure: but it is evil for the man which eateth with offense.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? have it with thyself before God: blessed is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 For he that doubteth, is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: and whatsoever is not of faith, is sin.

The day of halloween is a troubling time for me, but not for the reasons you might think. Yes, I'll admit it is my least favourite occasion. I have personal reasons to downplay halloween as a normal, average day. I don't force those reasons on anyone else. But people often have trouble understanding me when they inquire. It's ok.
I do my very best to honour Paul's advice in Romans 14 and let the main thing BE the main thing. That Christ died and then rose again, in order to have a redeemed people for Himself, that is the main thing!

I am not here to convince you of my opinion on halloween. I have Bible verses I use, but I won't use them here. If someone asks, I tell. And I know you as a believer, beloved of Christ, might have an opinion and set of verses different than my own. I will save you the trouble:
you won't convince me of your opinion any more than I will convince you of my own.

What really matters is that we are all saved by the grace of Christ, as we confess Jesus as Lord. Days come and days go, but is it the Lord Jesus you know?

However you choose to handle halloween, or any other day for that matter is your personal business between you and Jesus. If you have the faith to do something, and you do it unto Christ, He accepts it.
If you do NOT have faith to accept something, then do not ACCEPT or PRACTICE it. Paul clearly teaches that if one does not have the faith to celebrate a day (or eat a type of food) then do not celebrate it!
Whatsoever is not of FAITH is sin. So please don't allow yourself to be pressured to do something you don't have faith for. You are still a valid believer in the Body of Christ!

 I am perfectly happy to honour Reformation Day on October 31st. It is the day in 1517 when Martin Luther is said to have nailed his 95 thesis statements on the door of the church at Wittenburg.
I can celebrate this day, because it marks a period of time when sincere believers rediscovered the Biblical doctrine of justification by grace alone. That is something I can get behind and rejoice in. And it happens to fall on October 31st. It may be something for you to focus on as well. I leave that up to you.

Now, to get to the trouble I have: satan has a work he does on days such as halloween. It's not the death-themes or evil looking costumes I am referring to.
It's the strife and division amongst the saints. I must say that satan does not care what you
believe about halloween or Christmas traditions or Easter traditions. What he cares about is that you pick a side and then judge those who are on the other side of the argument. ANYthing to take the focus off of Jesus the LORD who paid for our sins in His Blood! The last thing satan wants is for the blood of Jesus to take effect on all souls who come to be cleansed by it.
As long as we are arguing about days or foods, we are no longer edifying each other or blessing Jesus Christ our Lord and God.

That is indeed what troubles me. And yet, I am with hope. I firmly believe in Love. Truth and Love are found perfectly united in Christ. And no day or food or tradition is going to stop me from loving and respecting my brothers and sisters in Christ.
I don't have to agree with them on the small stuff in order to love them. My opinion of days or foods is of less importance than your salvation. Your opinion of days and foods is also secondary to my own salvation. I never want you to lose faith in Christ or stumble because of my mere opinion. I'm allowed to have an opinion, as long as I don't use it to wound others. The same goes for all believers, you, me, and all the saints.

 Jesus loves you and me the same, and He expects us to respect one another and be mindful of our equal footing as citizens of heaven.
We need to remember it is Christ who unites us, not the traditions/days/foods of man. The observance of days cannot save us, or win souls. Only the preaching of the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit will accomplish that.

And since the keeping of days is a type of works, we know that no one is saved or condemned by the days they keep.
People are saved by GRACE when they confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9) They are condemned if they do not believe Jesus (Mark 16:16). That is all there is to it. There is no work that can save us, but the work Jesus already accomplished on the cross at Calvary!

Ephesians 2:5
Even when we were dead by sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, by whose grace ye are saved,

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Let us take the Bible's advice, and "follow those things which concern peace, and wherewith one may edify another." (Rom. 14:19)

God bless! With Love in Christ.

Sat. Nov. 1st 2014 8:52PM